Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Yuji Kitajima

Masasumi Yahata

Satoshi Takano

Shunji Kato

Shunji Katoh

Shinichi Kawahara

Nobuo Kikuchi

Fumihito Itoh

Tsutomu Katoh

Noboru Kusunose

Shin-ichi Kawahara

Ryo Tanoue

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a developing unit operable with a one- or two-ingredient type developer and a device for replenishing toner to the developing unit included in the apparatus are disclosed. A plurality of toner bottles are accommodated in the toner replenishing device, so that the toner is replenished from one toner bottle to the developing unit. A rotating mechanism causes all the toner bottles to rotate during toner replenishment. A device is provided for determining the frequency of use of the individual toner bottle. The toner discharged from each toner bottle is fed to a toner transport portion via a respective passageway.

Image forming apparatus and toner replenishing device therefor

A toner sorting device includes a device for taking in used toner conveyed from an image forming apparatus and conveying the used toner in one direction, and a device for sifting the used toner conveyed from the intake device to separate reusable toner from the used toner. The sifting device includes a tubular sieve for separating reusable toner from the used toner and a device for holding the sieve so that the sieve is rotatable. The sieve has an opening for receiving the used toner conveyed from the intake device to be moved into the sifting device and an opening for discharging the remaining toner separated from the reusable toner and remaining inside the sifting device. The toner sorting device further includes a device for collecting the reusable toner separated from the used toner by the sifting device and a device for collecting the remaining toner discharged from the sifting device. The toner sorting device further includes a device for accelerating sifting of the used toner by the sifting device.

Toner sorting device for separating reusable toner from used toner and

An image forming apparatus includes a toner bank that is configured to hold a large-volume of toner that is ultimately used to develop a latent image formed on a latent image carrier. A developing apparatus develops the latent image into a visible image. The toner is supplied to the toner bank, which need not be located adjacent to the developing apparatus, using a mechanism that prevents the toner from becoming clogged while being transported to the developing apparatus from the toner bank. In the toner bank, more than one toner bottles are vertically set. The toner bottles are individually opened and closed at respective opening portions thereon with an opening/closing mechanism and are rotated so as to discharge toner therefrom. Toner discharged from the toner bottles is dropped into the toner bank and is supplied to a developing apparatus by a flexible toner delivering mechanism having a powder pump unit and a flexible toner supplying pipe.

Image forming apparatus with provisions for supplying toner therein

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Kanagawa-ken, Japan

Yuji Kitajima